Akron Zoo: Tiger to have new home in London

AKRON -- A male Sumatran tiger from the Akron Zoo will soon have a new home in London.

Akron Zoo officials sayJae Jaewill be paired with a female for breeding purposes as part of the Sumatran Tiger Species Survival Plan.

Jae Jae was born at the San Francisco Zoo in 2008 and came to Akron the following year.

Jae Jae and hissoon-to-be female companion will be featured in a new exhibit at the London Zoo, which will roar open in the spring of 2013.

"We are sad to see Jae Jae leave Akron, but very excited and proud to participate in the Sumatran Tiger SSP and work with the London Zoo," said L. Patricia Simmons, the Akron Zoo President & CEO. "This is a great example of how the global zoo community is working to help this endangered species to make sure it is sustained for many generations."

He will remain on exhibit in the Akron Zoo through Friday. The following day, Berani, another male tiger, will be on exhibit every day. Berani was born at the National Zoo in 2001 and arrived in Akron from the San Antonio Zoo earlier this year.

Sumatran tigers are indigenous to the Indonesian island of Sumatra and are classified as a critically endangered species. Today it is estimated that there are less than 300 Sumatran tigers left in the wild.